Russians are freezing as Soviet-era infrastructure in the country crumbles —and Moscow keeps spending on war

• Heating systems are breaking down in Russia's harsh winter, leaving many people freezing.
• Much of Russia's Soviet-era infrastructure needs modernizing.
• But Russia is splurging on war rather than public utilities.

Heating systems are breaking down in Russia's harsh winter, leaving many people freezing as Moscow continues to spend on its war in Ukraine.

Parts of Russia are experiencing an unusually cold winter — temperatures in Siberia hit -70 degrees Fahrenheit in December.

The brutal conditions are made worse because Russia's infrastructure is poorly maintained, with many of its facilitates dating from the Soviet era, according to media reports.